To open carry or not open carry? That is the question!

[Big Jake]

I have been giving a lot of thought to the issue of OC. Putting aside the legality of OC from state to state I am interested in knowing the various opinions on the practicality of OC.

From my perspective I do not like to OC. Although I have done it in Arizona and New Mexico where it is legal and socially acceptable for the most part I have concluded that OC is a relic of the past.

The two main arguments that I have heard in favor of OC are...

1. OC is a deterent to crime.

2 OC is my 2A right. (depending on the state you are living in)!

responding to the first point I would say that OC is only a deterent to crime if there is a group or at least several people together who are doing it. Otherwise, you may just be the first one shot if a bad guy comes into the area where you are and wants to commit a crime thus eliminating you as a threat to any crime he wants to commit!

Point two. While OC may indeed be your 2A right (again, depending on what state you are in) it is a tired argument. Generally speaking I think an individual has to think long and hard about what his/her internal motivation is for OC.

Simply because it is legal does not mean that it is the best thing to do. Even in states like Arizona and New Mexico where it is legal and generaly accepted what is the point of the practice?

In this modern age I would much rather ccw. OC still makes many people uncomfortable because there is no way of knowing what your motivation is. Are you going to go postal or something along that line? Are you making a political statement?

My motivation for wanting to carry a firearm is for the protection of myself and loved ones. Not to beat the "I Have My 2A Rights Drum" or any other purpose. I would much rather ccw. This is to me a bigger deterent as the bads guys are kept guessing at who may have the means to protect themselves and who does not.

This is, of course, my own opinion.

What say you all fellow calgunners? :patriot:

[Rekrab]

My biggest problem with OC is that I have no need for it where I can legally OC.

The only place I'd ever want to OC is on my college campus where there are fairly regular muggings/assaults at night.

Even then, I can't open carry in my car, at my office or at the restaurants I go to.

[Z ME FLY]

My biggest problem with OC is that I have no need for it where I can legally OC.

The only place I'd ever want to OC is on my college campus where there are fairly regular muggings/assaults at night.

Even then, I can't open carry in my car, at my office or at the restaurants I go to.

Ummm... Can you OC on your campus? I wouldn't think so because of all the rules and policies but I can be wrong. You can always carry some pepper spray and a knife. It's better to have something vs. nothing.

[Army]

The "bad guys will just kill you first" arguments are based on ghosts and unicorns.....they don't happen. There are no known instances of this occuring. On the flip side, there are many instances of the armed good guy swiftly gaining the upper hand in a criminal instigated situation.

I UOC fairly regularly and have yet to have anyone faint, scream, run way, run away with their children, cause heart attacks, or create bedlam. I do get a lot of questions, which I answer honestly, truthfully, and try to supply the unloaded open carry flyer (http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum12/8457.html) to all.

I have been stopped by Police in order for them to check the condition of my gun, and then quickly told to "have a nice day, Sir". I was once detained for about 45 minutes until the LEO's failed to find any law they were adament I broke. After many applogies and giving of badge numbers and names, I was sent on my way with a..."have a nice day, Sir".

It's legal. It's safe. It's all we can do at this time.

[Big Jake]

Again, OC or UOC. I still don't get it. UOC makes zero sense to me because you are only making a political statement. UOC does not make you safer because if SHTF an unloaded gun is fairly worthless.

To me it's ccw or nothing. As always, just my two cents!

[yellowfin]

UOC is the alternative to your sidearm being at home in the safe where it's 5-30+ minutes away from helping you-- 3 seconds is a vast improvement. As for LOC making you a target, this idea has been debunked over and over again. I for one prefer to OC while travelling with car full of luggage so anyone looking at a load of goodies to steal will immediately know it's being guarded. I really wish I could OC in NY but it's not legal here at all.

[Army]

Again, OC or UOC. I still don't get it. UOC makes zero sense to me because you are only making a political statement. UOC does not make you safer because if SHTF an unloaded gun is fairly worthless.

To me it's ccw or nothing. As always, just my two cents!
Again, in case you missed it, ammunition is also carried while UOC. Any gunner worth his leather, can load and make ready in a couple/few seconds. With 3 ten round magazines on my belt, I am far from worthless in a gunfight, and tenfold more safe than only having a phone call to 911.

With an empty magazine in the gun, nobody can know if it is loaded or not.....except me. The only statement I want to make is; "Don't tread on me".

[Big Jake]

Again, in case you missed it, ammunition is also carried while UOC. Any gunner worth his leather, can load and make ready in a couple/few seconds. With 3 ten round magazines on my belt, I am far from worthless in a gunfight, and tenfold more safe than only having a phone call to 911.

With an empty magazine in the gun, nobody can know if it is loaded or not.....except me. The only statement I want to make is; "Don't tread on me".

I did not mean to imply that you were worthless! I still don't like OC. Again, just my opinion.

[Rekrab]

Ummm... Can you OC on your campus? I wouldn't think so because of all the rules and policies but I can be wrong. You can always carry some pepper spray and a knife. It's better to have something vs. nothing.

My point was it's the only place I want to carry, and I can't. Sorry, I was kinda vague.

[dfens]

Well when it comes to CA UOC is all that we got. I would love to OC but don't do so because I live in a area where 50 cops will be called on me and don't know that it's legal.

If CA was a shall issue state I'd CCW in a second. So some people to stick it to this crappy state OC.

Now if I had to go into a real bad neighboorhood I just find a reason not to. In this day in age I shouldn't have to worry about what street I'm going to or at what hour.

So if I know it could get real hairy I'd OC, but until it's more openly accepted and the local police won't put a bullet in me because they have a inchy trigger fingers, I'll pass on it for now.